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From album
Llegando los monos
Sumo · 1986 · Track 7
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The story behind
The song Los viejos vinagres by Sumo sounds like a party, but it's not just any party: it's one that mocks those who think they're modern just because they follow trends. The track kicks off with a funk groove that instantly hooks you, a style that Ian Dury and the Blockheads popularized in the 70s and which here blends with Argentine post-punk. The lyrics, however, play it backwards: they don't talk about bitter old folks, but rather about those young people who dress up as new but repeat the same empty gestures. The irony lies in the title and in the verse by Rubén Darío that's quoted: "Juventud, divino tesoro" ("Youth, divine treasure"), but applied to those who, at 12 or 30, already act like reactionaries. Luca Prodan made it clear on stage at the Festival Chateau Rock in 1987: Los viejos vinagres have no age, they have a mindset.
The song was born as a commission from the producer to repeat the success of La rubia tarada, and it worked: it became the standout single from Llegando los monos, Sumo's second album released in May 1986 under CBS Records. The recording was self-produced by the band, with Mario Breuer handling the controls and Walter Fresco as art director, but the result sounded fresh, without pretensions. The album was presented live at Obras Sanitarias on August 9 of that same year, and was captured on video, which today seems like an era-defining document. At just 3 minutes and 17 seconds, the song needs no more: its infectious rhythm and biting lyrics made it stand out in a scene where bands like Soda Stereo or Virus were setting trends.